Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, upon notice, on 23 November 2011:

How many firearms were imported in each of the past 10 years and how many of these were: (a) long guns; and (b) short guns.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Home Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question.

The number of commercially imported*# firearms for years 2001 – 2010 is as follows:

* Commercial firearms are goods that have been imported into Australia in accordance with Customs import declaration requirements, even if by a private user.

# Figures provided include air firearms as well as conventional firearms.

## Long arms include rifles, shotguns, military, antique firearms and uncategorised air-firearms; and for 2003 onwards, paintball markers.

It should be noted that Customs and Border Protection's data collection and recording arrangements were amended in 2004. Accordingly, data prior to 2004 is not directly comparable with current statistics.